General practitioners’ perceptions of different practice models: a qualitative study
Catherine Joyce A D , Hayley McDonald A C and Laureen Lawlor-Smith BA School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 6th Floor, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Vic. 3004, Australia.
B Southern Adelaide–Fleurieu–Kangaroo Island Medicare Local, Mitsubishi Administration Building, Level 1, 1284 South Road, Clovelly Park, SA 5039, Australia.
C Present address: Monash Injury Research Centre, Monash University, Building 70, 21 Alliance Lane, Clayton Campus, Vic. 3800, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: catherine.joyce@monash.edu
Australian Journal of Primary Health 22(5) 388-393 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY15025
Submitted: 13 February 2015 Accepted: 14 June 2015 Published: 9 September 2015
Abstract
Ownership of general practices is changing, but perceptions of GPs about ownership and the factors influencing their decisions about this are not well understood. The aim of this study was to explore GPs’ perceptions and attitudes towards different practice models. GPs (n = 138) in the Southern Adelaide-Fleurieu-Kangaroo Island Medicare Local region participated in semi-structured interviews, which were analysed thematically. Thirty-nine per cent of participants were practice owners, and 64% were working in a practice with six or more GPs. Factors driving practice ownership were flexibility, autonomy and financial reward. Factors discouraging ownership were increased responsibility, time commitment and the potential for financial burden. Some interest in future practice ownership was evident, but concerns were also raised about the knowledge and skills required. Strategies are needed both to support GPs who do wish to be practice owners and to facilitate a range of practice models to ensure continued delivery of accessible, quality primary medical care to patients.
Additional keywords: general practice, practice ownership.
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